SOLUTION: I am having a difficult time with this question. A line contains the points (1, 2) and (a, -4) If the line has the slope m=3, what is the value of a?

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Question 743199: I am having a difficult time with this question. A line contains the points (1, 2) and (a, -4) If the line has the slope m=3, what is the value of a?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A line contains the points (1, 2) and (a, -4) If the line has the slope m=3,
what is the value of a?
:
we can use the slope formula: %28%28y2-y1%29%29%2F%28%28x2-x1%29%29 = m
assign the given values as follows
x1=1, y1=2
x2=a, y2=-4
m=3
:
so we have:
%28%28-4-2%29%29%2F%28%28a-1%29%29 = 3
Combine the numerator, multiply both sides by the denominator, and you have:
-6 = 3(a-1)
-6 = 3a - 3
-6 + 3 = 3a
-3 = 3a
a = -1
:
:
See if that works
%28%28-4-2%29%29%2F%28%28-1-1%29%29 = %28-6%29%2F%28-2%29 = +3
:
Did I make this understandable to you? C